MORE than 4,600 youngsters under 18 went to hospital with serious alcohol-related illnesses last year.

That works out at about 13 a day. For the 18-20 group, the figure leaps to 41,122 - nearly 800 a week.

Lib Dem MP Paul Burstow, who obtained the statistics from the health department, said they showed binge-drinking was "completely out of control".

The toll covers illnesses such as liver disease, drink-related mental problems and alcoholic poisoning. It does not include youngsters with drink-related injuries from fights, sex attacks and car accidents.

Mr Burstow said the 4,647 figure for under-18s was "shocking". He added: "It took ministers eight years to draw up an alcohol harm reduction strategy. Dither and delay are the Government's approach."

The Independent Institute of Alcohol Studies said: "Binge-drinking damages the brain and learning ability so we'll see the effect for years." Drunkenness among women is also being partly blamed for an increase in sex attacks.

Drug abuse will worsen too, said the think-tank Foresight. It claimed hard-core heroin and crack cocaine addiction could treble in 20 years.

A senior Labour source said drink issues were being taken "extremely seriously".